3 min readKolkataUpdated: Jun 14, 2026 08:56 PM IST
Kolkata’s iconic Red Road is gearing up to host the 12th International Yoga Day on June 21, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to lead the celebrations.
The state administration and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) have kicked off extensive preparations for the mega event. According to official sources, nearly 30,000 people from across the city are expected to perform yoga alongside PM Modi. Notably, this is the first time that Yoga Day would be celebrated at the Red Road. It is usually marked in the Brigade Parade Ground.
KMC sources revealed that yoga sessions are being organised not just at Red Road, but across the entire city. Three to four large parks or open spaces have been identified in each borough for the event, with special arrangements made at prominent locations such as Mohar Kunj and Rabindra Sarovar.
This year, the global theme for the event is ‘Yoga for Healthy Ageing.’ Under the guidance of PM Modi, the Ministry of AYUSH is actively expanding the reach of yoga to more communities, offices, schools, and rural areas across the country.
A high-level preparatory meeting was held at Swasthya Bhavan on Saturday, attended by Health Principal Secretary Narayan Swaroop Nigam, Secretary Sharad Dwivedi, Director General of AYUSH Divya Loganathan, and Director of Ayurveda Debashis Ghosh. Following the meeting, officials stated that the event would mark a historic occasion for Bengal.
Meanwhile, the process of selecting and screening yoga instructors is underway. The first round of selections concluded at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) complex in Salt Lake, while the second phase is scheduled to take place at Jadavpur University today.
Mobilising sports clubs and institutions
On Friday, Sports Minister Indranil Khan held a meeting with various sports clubs and associations, urging them to participate actively. The meeting was attended by prominent sports administrators, including the former chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s brothers, Ajit Banerjee, representing the Indian Football Association (IFA), and Swapan (Babun) Banerjee of the West Bengal Table Tennis Association. Schools, colleges, and government institutions across the state have also been asked to register on the Yoga Sangam initiative.
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According to sources, PM Modi will be on a two-day visit to West Bengal. He is scheduled to attend the West Bengal Foundation Day celebrations on June 20, followed by the Yoga Day event on June 21. This will mark PM Modi’s first visit to the state since the new BJP government was sworn in last month.
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